The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-08
ed call, IN the fall of 1885. to Trinity Church,
Chicago, of which congregation no was the
nominal pastor at the time of his death
THE GERMAN CATHOLICS.
Mr.. Powderly Takes Notice of the Attack on
the Knights-Selection of Officers.

CHICAGO, Sept To-day concluded the
convention of the German Roman Catholic
Cen trail Union of America The chief interest
conferred in the following dispatch, which was
read to the assembled delegates by the secre-
tary:
To President Span nhorst. German Catholic Central
Union Convention, Chicago:
The resolutions introduced yesterday by Delegate
Mitche against the Knights of Labor are unknd,
just, and must have been based on misrep-
reservations. The Knights of Labor have
never petitioned against, and will
petition against, German immigration. L not
enemy of the Germans. and nothing IN my
career can so be construed unless my advice to work
ingmen be sober and temperate bear that con-
struction. That advice has been given to all working
are neither Anarchists. Socialists Prohibition
lists. but tn ey are temperate Is It fauiS to be
Catholic and protestant know that I am not
aud have been their enemy. I
the same right to keep sober and and to re-
Labor clam these RIGHTS for them n common with
other men. VIII your convention say that this is
wrong! wish your convention God speed, and hope
thai its will be for the good Of all men,
General Master Workman knights of Labor.
A short but heated discussion followed the re-
ceipt of the dispatch, and incepsed delegate
spoke in favor of rebuking the head of the
Knights of Labor, saying that a man of Mr..
Powderly's reputation was not lifted to be at the
head of such powerful organization if he would
believe that the German Catholics were the en-
emies of the Knights.
The convention refused to concur in the dele
ate's views. however, and a dispatch explaining
the true situation of affairs was ordered sent
to Mr.. Powderly
In the afternoon, the officers for the ensuing
year. were elected by reclamation, as follows:
President, FL. j. Spannhorst of St. Louis;
first vice-president, William Casper, of Milwau-
kee; second yice-presdent L. SholLen. OF Chi
cago; recording secretary. Alfred Strekel OF
Milwaukee; corresponding secretary, Theodore
Fehlig, of St Louis; treasurer. John +. Brinck-
mann, of Terre Haute Ind.
The only this list of officers is
Mr.. Scholten. Ali the others were reelected,
MIR. Spannhorst for the fifteenth time Cincin-
natl was selected as the place for holding the
next annual convention.
The following executive committee elect
ed: Friedrich Arendes, of st. Louis; j. ID.
Deuser of Louisville VIM. Auer, of New York;
Anton Bickel. of Milwaukee. A vice president
was named for each State
Before adjournment, the members of the So
ciety of Priests were given reception in the
convention, and several of them made addresses
President Spannhorst delivered speech that
was intended welcome to the priests, as
we'll as wind up" to the convention. He was
glad to that the clergy was willing to work
hand in hand with the laity. If that was done,
then the Catholic Germans of America
would form an insurmountable wall
that nobody would attempt to
break The solidarity of the German Catholics
could not be shaker. There had been attempts
made to draw them into controversies; there had
been charges of attempting to give undue prom
inence to Germans; but all attempts had
suited in failure and had been met
with a determination not to be drawn
into any fight If the German Catholics
would go in the way they had commenced
they would soon be masters of the field. This
country bad gained its liberty through the
Catholics. and that liberty would be retained
through the fundamentally of the Catholics.
Mr.. Spannborst told 'bit of history" and de-
scrbed how it through the influence of the
Holy See that the King of France was induced
to assist the Americans their struggle for
liberty against England time when
they were on the point of being
defeated. He said it was the
attacks from certain quarters that had helped
to make the convention a success. He urged
the establishment and support OF parochal
schools by the German Catholics. In all things
where they were in doubt he advised them to
be guided by the clergy. who always meant well
and tried to do the best for the faithful.
With three cheers for the Central Union and
three cheers for the clergy and the Ger 4